Elsinore is calling, theatre gays, history gays, and anyone who has ever dramatically whispered “to be or not to be” in the mirror: this is not a drill.
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Heartstopper’s Joe Locke and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’s Andrew Scott are teaming up for Elsinore, a lush new biographical drama about the life, talent, and very real bravery of legendary Scottish actor Ian Charleson. Yes, the Chariots of Fire guy. Yes, the Hamlet guy. And yes, a deeply important gay story that deserves the big, serious, prestige treatment it’s finally getting.
Andrew Scott is set to star as Charleson, zeroing in on a particularly heavy chapter of his life as he prepared to take on Hamlet at London’s National Theatre. If you’re already emotionally preparing yourself for Scott delivering Shakespeare while quietly falling apart inside—same.
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More Than a Man Running on the Beach
Most people remember Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell, the devout Olympic runner in the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire. But within theatre circles, Charleson was the real deal: disciplined, intense, and devastatingly good on stage. His final role as Hamlet wasn’t just another credit—it became legend.
What makes that performance even more staggering is what was happening behind the scenes. Charleson was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and continued working despite being seriously ill. He died of AIDS-related causes in January 1990 at the age of 40, just eight weeks after finishing his run as Hamlet. And in a move that still hits hard decades later, he requested that it be publicly announced he had died of AIDS.
At a time when fear and stigma were everywhere, Charleson’s honesty mattered. His death was among the first celebrity deaths in the UK openly attributed to AIDS, helping push awareness and acceptance forward when both were desperately needed. Elsinore promises to honor that courage while giving it the emotional spotlight it deserves.
Enter Joe Locke, Holder of the Youths
Joe Locke—our resident Gen Z gay whisperer thanks to Heartstopper—joins the cast, bringing two generations together in one story. While his exact role hasn’t been revealed, his presence alone signals what Elsinore is aiming for: making sure queer history doesn’t stay locked in dusty theatre programs.
And he’s joining a truly unhinged-in-the-best-way cast list: Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, Monica Dolan, Juliet Stevenson, Adeel Akhtar, Matthew Beard, David Dawson, Kadiff Kirwan, Dickie Beau, and Peter Mullan. That’s not a cast—it’s a British acting flex.
Serious Talent, Serious Feelings
The film is directed by Simon Stone (The Dig) and written by Stephen Beresford, the BAFTA-winning mind behind Pride. Which means expect nuance, emotional restraint, and then—when you least expect it—absolutely devastating moments that will leave you staring at the wall afterward.
Elsinore aims to explore Charleson’s artistic achievements alongside the personal and political reality of living with HIV/AIDS during one of the most stigmatized periods in modern history. It’s about the work, yes—but also about the quiet courage it took to keep showing up.
Why the Gays Should Care (Deeply)
This isn’t just another tasteful biopic designed to win awards and politely move on. Elsinore is a reminder that queer history was built by people who didn’t get to be loud, viral, or celebrated in real time. They were brave anyway. Honest anyway. Brilliant anyway.
The film is currently in production across the UK and doesn’t yet have a release date—but emotionally? We’re already booked and busy preparing to be wrecked.
Bring tissues. Bring your theatre friend who cries easily. And maybe rewatch Chariots of Fire beforehand—because this time, with Elsinore, we’re running straight into our feelings.